Mtv's Real O.c.

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June 29, 2004 -- MTV is borrowing a page from Fox's "The O.C." — and making its own series based in California's Orange County.
The difference here is that "Laguna Beach — The Real Orange County" premiering this fall on MTV, will be an unscripted look at real teens that will visually look like a drama — rather than a scripted show like "The O.C.," which has been a hit for Fox.

"Laguna Beach" will follow seven "glamorous" teens living in Orange County, the same geographical area that's provided plenty of dramatic fodder for Fox's teen-angst drama "The O.C."

According to MTV, "Laguna Beach" "has the look and feel of a scripted drama, without the conventions of reality television" — meaning there will be no "confessionals" or "interviews," with all dialogue, reactions and situations "real and unscripted."

The stars of the show will be high-schoolers Stephen, Kristen, Lauren (LC), Lo, Christina, Trey and Morgan, who've been friends since grade-school.

They've allowed MTV total access into their lives — including their relationships, home lives and everything else that encompasses.

"Our goal is to show the lives of this incredible group of teenagers — authentic and unscripted — yet shot to look like our viewers' favorite dramatic series," said MTV production VP Tony DiSanto.

"It will be a unique viewing experience, unlike anything else on television, and all-the-more compelling because the drama is real."

There's no firm airdate yet, but the series will premiere this fall.

MTV has plenty of experience with unscripted drama, of course, having aired "Road Rules" and 11 seasons of "The Real World" — considered the granddaddy of reality TV.